Search operation underway for two men feared missing after Christmas Day swim
Two men are feared lost at sea after a number of people were rescued from the water during a Christmas Day swim in Devon.The emergency services rushed to Budleigh Salterton beach this morning, where Devon and Cornwall Police reported several people were in difficulty in the water.A number of people were "safely recovered" and assessed by paramedics, but PA news agency has now reported that two men are thought to be missing.It said the next of kin of one man had been spoken to and attempts to speak to a second man's family were continuing, with a local friend informed as part of those efforts.The incident was initially reported by Devon and Cornwall Police around 10.30am, stating that emergency services were "responding to an incident in the water".Those planning a Christmas Day swim at Exmouth were warned by police not to venture into the English Channel. They later added that several people had been "safely recovered" and were set to be assessed by paramedics.The police posted on social media: "Please do not enter the water and avoid the area. We are also urgently asking the public not enter the water at Exmouth for the Christmas day swim while emergency services are committed with this incident."The police later released a statement: "Emergency services were called at 10.25am today [25 December] to the beach at Budleigh Salterton following concern for people in the water.""A number of people have been safely recovered to shore and will be checked by paramedics."Coastguard and RNLI crews are continuing search efforts in the water."Please do not enter the water and avoid the area. We are also urgently asking the public not enter the water at Exmouth for the Christmas day swim while emergency services are committed with this incident.Police later issued a statement: "There is a significant amount of emergency service personnel working on this incident and we ask that people do not enter the water along this stretch of coast while this incident is ongoing for public safety reasons."The RNLI and Coastguard units were also mobilised for the emergency response, reports the Mirror. The RNLI website confirmed that a rescue boat was dispatched from Teignmouth Lifeboat Station at 10.52am this morning.In an official statement, the Coastguard confirmed it had been notified about the incident around 10am on Thursday.A spokeswoman stated: "HM Coastguard is responding to reports of people in difficulty in the water at Budleigh Salterton today, 25 December."Alerted at around 10am, Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters have been sent to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance service."The RNLI reported that lifeboats from Exmouth, Torbay and Teignmouth were deployed to the incident.Several Christmas and St Stephen's Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were called off this year due to a yellow weather warning for wind.This incident occurs amidst weather warnings for the south west. The Met Office issued a severe wind warning for the region on Christmas Day.The weather warning is effective from 4am until 11.59pm on December 25 and covers Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset in the South West, as well as certain areas of Wales.The Met Office warned: "East to northeasterly winds will become particularly strong and gusty during Christmas Day, with peak gusts fairly widely of 45-55 mph, but 55-65 mph along some exposed coasts and to the west of prominent hills."Given the more unusual wind direction, this may lead to some disruption to transport and power supplies."Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts."Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
